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Environmental News

MPR News is your source for environment news from Minnesota and across the country.

Getting to Green: Minnesota’s energy future

Getting to Green is an MPR News series that shares stories about Minnesota’s clean energy transition, including what needs to be done to get there.

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Climate Cast

Listen to Climate Cast, the MPR News podcast all about our changing climate and its impact in Minnesota and worldwide.

Dayton, bear researcher Rogers meet Monday

Dayton, bear researcher Rogers meet Monday

Black bear researcher Lynn Rogers meets with Gov. Dayton on Monday, with hopes on convincing the governor to allow him to continue his controversial program beyond the end of this month.
by Dan Kraker

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Lake Marion rejects improvement district

Residents on Lake Marion, in northwestern Minnesota, decided against a lake improvement district in a vote over the weekend.
by Conrad Wilson

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Feds say falcons recovered; no more chick rescues

Feds say falcons recovered; no more chick rescues

After decades of scrambling on the underside of California bridges to pluck endangered peregrine falcon chicks from ill-placed nests, inseminating female birds and releasing captive-raised fledglings, wildlife biologists have been so successful in bringing back the powerful raptors that they now threaten Southern California's endangered shorebird breeding sites.

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State officials warn of toxic blue-green algae

State officials warn of toxic blue-green algae

If you're out at a lake this weekend, you might want to check for a form of toxic algae before taking a dip.
by Elizabeth Dunbar

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E. coli confirmed in Lake Minnetonka

The illnesses occurred in young adults who reported swimming and boating in the Big Island area of the lake on July 4. One person was hospitalized and has since recovered.
by Lorna Benson

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Lake Superior land sale irks Gitchi-Gami bike trail supporters

Lake Superior land sale irks Gitchi-Gami bike trail supporters

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is putting $3.3 million worth of mostly lakeshore property up for sale next week, including a parcel of land on Lake Superior's North Shore where outdoors advocates had hoped a state bike trail would be built.
by Elizabeth Dunbar

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Wildfires will worsen, further strain Forest Service

An economist who tracks fire records sees a disturbing trend that indicates worsening wildfire, burning twice as long and destroying more homes.

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Rethink coal dependency, PUC tells Great River Energy

Rethink coal dependency, PUC tells Great River Energy

The Public Utilities Commission announcement has no immediate impact, but it is another step in a long-running transition toward the use of more renewable energy in Minnesota.
by Stephanie Hemphill

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Lake improvement districts help property owners protect water quality, fight invasive species

Lake improvement districts help property owners protect water quality, fight invasive species

Property owners throughout Minnesota are increasingly turning to a new funding tool called lake improvement districts to protect water quality and fight the spread of invasive species. But the new taxes the districts levy are dividing residents around several Minnesota lakes.
by Dan Gunderson

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Community solar project gets started in Minneapolis

Community solar project gets started in Minneapolis

    A business on East Lake Street in Minneapolis is showing off its roof, which will soon be home to a community solar garden. No, there won’t be any plants on that roof, but the concept is similar to a community garden: People invest in the array to cover their electricity needs, just as…
by Elizabeth Dunbar

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